Governors

Governors

Thank you for looking at the governors’ website information. You may be reading this information as a parent considering our school for your child and, on behalf of all governors, I sincerely hope that you choose Cottage Grove Primary School. Our school is proud to be judged by Ofsted as a good school and governors know that everyone who is connected with Cottage Grove works hard to ensure that it improves continuously. If you are already a parent and would like to know more about what we do and why schools have governors, I have given a brief overview of our work and responsibilities below. I hope you find this useful and I look forward to meeting you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Sally Taylor

Chair of Governors

What we do

Most of the 10 members of the governing board are volunteers from the community – parents and local people with expertise to offer – and there is also some staff representation. As headteacher, Mrs Honeychurch is also a member. We fulfil a role that is defined by the department for education (the government, in other words).

Our tasks are strategic, rather than day-to-day and we work with Mrs Honeychurch to make sure the school runs smoothly and that pupils are safe and well taught. At the same time, we also hold school leaders to account for ensuring that pupils achieve well. We oversee the school’s finances to make sure money is well spent.

We meet formally twice a term and, as individuals, we also carry out visits and tasks in between meetings. We discuss:

improving school standards, including the culture for safeguarding.

resources, which includes matters relating to finance, staffing, premises and safety.

Governors’ meetings are a matter of public record and all of our committee meetings are minuted. These minutes are open to scrutiny by any member of the public once they are agreed to be a true record. However, minutes do not record all of the discussion that takes place and they can be misunderstood. If you want to read our minutes, you are welcome to do so, as they are always kept in the school office. Please ask a member of the office team and this will be arranged. We will ensure a governor is available in case you want to ask any questions.

If you want to find out more about our work or know what has taken place at meetings, please speak to the headteacher or any governor, or leave a message for me at the school office. If you are interested in becoming a school governor, please speak to the head teacher in the first instance.